Business Traveler articles from October 2005

Business Traveler archives from October 2005

This month.(hurricanes)(Editorial)
October 1, 2005... When I first began covering the travel industry in 1992, one of the first big stories I encountered was the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew in the Bahamas. I went to the island of Eleuthera, a 110-mile sliver of land where people made their...

SkyTeam skeptic.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2005... My wife and I recently traveled to Greece on vacation, booking our travel through Delta. We flew Business Class on Air France from Atlanta to Paris and First Class from Paris to Athens. Since we had a four-hour layover in Athens, we went to the...

SkyTeam redux.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2005... I would like to respond to Pascal Camboumac's letter (Business Traveler, September 2005). I am the mirror image of Mr. Camboumac. I have had Platinum Medallion status with Delta (over 2 million miles in the SkyMiles program) for the past...

EVA in Vietnam.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2005... Jennifer Welker's report on Ho Chi Minh City, "Good Fortune Hunting," (Business Traveler, August 2005) presented a vibrant and inviting city. It was very nicely written, though we were disappointed with "Getting There." EVA and its...

Exemplary employee.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2005... In response to Mr. Stevenson's remarks regarding the BA employee (Business Traveler, August 2005), I think it is important to remember that the space directly under your seat is reserved for the person sitting to your rear. Those sitting in...

Direct response.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2005... I read the United response to Herbert Edmonds' letter. (Business Traveler, September 2005) You know, these responses are typical and getting very old. They really need to get more creative. Like, for instance, utilizing basic customer service...

Delta, Northwest Airlines file for bankruptcy protection.(AIRLINES)
October 1, 2005... DELTA AIR LINES AND NORTHWEST AIRLINES HAVE BEGUN TO RESTRUCTURE THEIR OPERATIONS FOLLOWING THEIR NEAR SIMULTANEOUS FILINGS FOR CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION ON SEPT. 14. The carriers, both members of the SkyTeam alliance, cited the high...

MAXjet to fly NY-London route.(AIRLINES)
October 1, 2005... ANOTHER DEDICATED BUSINESS-CLASS CARRIER HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS TO LAUNCH SERVICE NEXT MONTH, CREATING A CROWDED FIELD OF PREMIUM-CLASS SEATS ON THE NEW YORK-TO-LONDON MARKET. MAXjet Airways will launch six flights per week between New York...

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.(package deal)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... * THE RITZ-CARLTON HOTEL COMPANY and Mercedes-Benz USA launched an exclusive Key to Luxury package, which combines a deluxe guest room on a club-level floor, full use of a new Mercedes-Benz with unlimited mileage, a full tank of gas each...

Millennium Hotels and Resorts.(special packages)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... * MILLENNIUM HOTELS AND RESORTS has a series of special incentives and packages for Mastercard Premium cardholders in North America and Mastercard Platinum cardholders in Asia. In the U.S., cardholders will receive complimentary in-room...

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts.(special discounts)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... * WYNDHAM HOTELS AND RESORTS is offering special discounts for members of its loyalty program, Wyndham ByRequest. Summerfield Suites by Wyndham--Bridgewater (NJ) is offering special discounts on prepaid accommodations. The hotel is offering 25...

The Netherlands Board of Tourism.(global positioning system device out for rent)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... * THE NETHERLANDS BOARD OF TOURISM announced that visitors can rent a GPS device, called The City Navigator, to help them navigate the city of Amsterdam. The GPS is pre-programmed with 500 different museums, restaurants, nightclubs, restaurants...

Preferred hotels and resorts.(voucher offered)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... * PREFERRED HOTELS AND RESORTS, a consortium of independent luxury hotels, is offering business travelers a $50 voucher on airfare when they book a trip to one of several properties around the world. Hotels participating in the promotion...

Corinthia Towers Hotel.(special packages)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... * CORINTHIA TOWERS HOTEL in Prague has a special 24-hour Delegate Package for hotel guests looking to relax after long conventions. The package includes overnight room, buffet breakfast, meeting room rental (including mineral water, pen and...

United Airlines.(HOTELS)
October 1, 2005... * UNITED AIRLINES has discounted fares, from $119 to $149 each way, between California and the Northeast. Sample fares include Los Angeles or San Francisco to New York LaGuardia for $119 each way. Fares from New York LaGuardia require a...

Air France.(special fares)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... * AIR FRANCE has special business-class fares for travel between the U.S. and various cities throughout Europe. Fares are up to 65 percent off regular business-class prices. Destinations include New York to Madrid for $1,065 each way, Istanbul...

American Airlines.(special fares)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... * AMERICAN AIRLINES is offering special fares for travel from the U.S. to Santiago, Chile. Fares start at $789 and require a 14-day advance purchase or must be booked within three days of reservation, whichever comes first. A Saturday-night...

Continental Airlines.(HOTELS)
October 1, 2005... * CONTINENTAL AIRLINES is offering introductory $499 each-way airfares for its Newark to Dehli, India service. The fare is valid for connecting service from Washington, D.C., Cleveland and Boston. Introductory fare from Bush Intercontinental...

Tap Portugal.(special fare )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... * TAP PORTUGAL has special web-only fares in Top Executive Class starting at $2,005 per person, based on flights between Newark and Lisbon, Porto or Faro. Fares are valid for travel through Dec. 31, 2005, but tickets must be issued by Dec. 30....

Iberia.(special economy-class fares )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... * IBERIA has special economy-class fares for travel from the U.S. to Spain starting at $419 roundtrip, based on travel from Chicago. Fares are valid for departures through Oct. 31, 2005. Destinations include Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Malaga...

Jetblue Airways.(flight fare)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... * JETBLUE AIRWAYS is offering special SuperFly fares. Sample fares include $99 each way from New York to Denver or Salt Lake City. This fare requires a seven-day advance purchase and travel must be completed by Dec. 14, 2005. Other fares...

Air New Zealand.(AIRLINES)
October 1, 2005... AIR NEW ZEALAND has special web-only fares on flights to Auckland in Business Premier class. Flights from San Francisco to Auckland start at $6,013 per person, while flights from Los Angeles to Auckland or Australia start at $5,901 per person....

Pacifica Hotel Company.(HOTELS)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... * PACIFICA HOTEL COMPANY is taking 15 percent off the regular room rate for guests who donate a new toy worth at least $10 to the Toys for Tots program. The offer is valid from Oct. 1, 2005 to Dec. 22, 2005 at any of Pacifica's hotels in...

Intercontinental Hotels and Resorts.(special prices)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... * INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS AND RESORTS will take up to 20% off the normal rate for a guest room, with a 14-day advance purchase at select hotels. Sample deals include the Intercontinental Montreal for $239 per night and the Intercontinental...

Loews Hotels.(free night stay)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... * LOEWS HOTELS is offering a free fourth night's stay at select locations with a M-day advance purchase. The offer is good through Jan. 31, 2006. Some of the participating locations include Loews' Denver, Philadelphia, New York City, and Los...

Millennium and Copthorne Hotels.(discount extended)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... * MILLENNIUM AND COPTHORNE HOTELS is extending a discount on its luxury Asian hotels. Various terms and conditions apply. For example, the M Hotel Singapore is offering introductory rates of $175 a night per room, which includes free Broadband...

The Hilton Garden Inn.(HOTELS)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... * THE HILTON GARDEN INN in Albany, N.Y., is offering a special package deal aimed at the business traveler. For $169 per night, the package includes a full-service breakfast, two complimentary beverages at the Great American Grill restaurant,...

Star treatment.(Loyalty Deals)(American Aadvantage)
October 1, 2005... In a long-awaited move, the Star Alliance announced that award points can now be redeemed for mileage-based upgrades between several member airlines. Frequent fliers can redeem points to upgrade from coach to business class or from business to...

Shuttle in style.(What's New? BUSINESS LEISURE FLIGHTS AIRPORT SHOPPING HOTELS RESORTS)(Avion Private Jet Club)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... LOOKING TO FLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN STYLE? Avion Private Jet Club operates an ultra high-end shuttle service between New York and Los Angeles, offering individual seats for about $10,000 per person. This "country club in the sky" offers...

Giving the gift of luxury.(What's New? BUSINESS LEISURE FLIGHTS AIRPORT SHOPPING HOTELS RESORTS)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... SMALL LUXURY HOTELS OF THE WORLD is now offering gift certificates that can be used as employee incentives or gifts to a family member or friend. Gift certificates can be used to pay for rooms booked, in whole or in part, at any member hotel....

High-tech guest rooms.(Travel Updates)
October 1, 2005... MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL RECENTLY LAUNCHED A NEW DESIGN FOR ITS HOTELS AND RESORTS under an ambitious advertising campaign, which included four days of musical acts and a large billboard that was unveiled in Times Square. Called the mSpot, the...

Credit card cashes in on windy city.(Travel Updates)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... AMERICAN EXPRESS is offering a new In: Chicago credit card, aimed at "young and social" Chicago residents. The card gives rewards toward 60 participating restaurants, clubs, entertainment venues, and cultural institutions in the city....

Grand Hotel Stockholm.(HOTEL CHECK: STOCKHOLM)(Hotel Review)
October 1, 2005... WHAT'S IT LIKE? Since opening in 1874, the Grand Hotel has meant opulence and superior service. The creation of French restaurateur Regis Cadier, the personal chef of King Oscar I, this magnificent hotel has counted Winston Churchill, Alfred...

The Raffles Plaza.(HOTEL CHECK: SINGAPORE)(Raffles City)(Hotel Review)
October 1, 2005... WHAT'S IT LIKE? A modern and luxurious hotel that has won many awards and accolades. The hotel has 769 rooms/suites including 400 premier deluxe rooms and three penthouse suites, which come with unique features such as bars, barbeques, steam...

Apple iPod nano.(Tech)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
October 1, 2005... ($199 and up: www.apple.com) Call the iPod get any smaller? Apple has taken its already diminutive series of portable music players and made them even more compact, stylish, and functional. The new iPod nano comes in 2-gig ($199) and 4-gig...

Iogear Laser Mini Mouse 1600.(Tech)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
October 1, 2005... (S49.95; www.eogear.com) Iogear's Laser Mini Mouse 1600 is billed as a travel tool for laptop users, but a few minutes out of the box I was hooking it up to my desktop computer, and have been using it ever since. The key feature of this...

Memorex Mega Travel Drive.(Tech)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
October 1, 2005... ($149.99; www.memorex.com) Is the Memorex Mega Drive a flash drive on steroids? An external hard drive that's been through the wash a few too many times? Either way, you have to love this powerful little puppy. The Mega Drive literally...

MediaStreet eMotion.(Tech)(Product/Service Evaluation)
October 1, 2005... MediaStreet emotion ($349; www.mediastreet.com) Samsung L75 Portable DVD Player ($225; available at Best Buy stores only; www.samsung.corn) Versatility is the hallmark of the MediaStreet eMotion--and may justify spending a few...

German engineering, southern comfort.(Gear: Pump up your power profile with these ultra high-end briefcases.)
October 1, 2005... Quite possibly the most self-indulgent carrier you can buy, the MontBlanc Custom Briefcase is made from the underbellies of a trio of Mississippi alligators highly prized because the extremely fine sand doesn't scratch them, resulting in a very...

Old school.(Gear: Pump up your power profile with these ultra high-end briefcases.)
October 1, 2005... If you favor a sturdy, soft case that reads vintage, consider the Huron attache, from Louis Vuitton's Utah leather collection. It's made of hand-treated calfskin, using a craftsman procedure that allows the graining of the leather to show...

Style council.(Gear: Pump up your power profile with these ultra high-end briefcases.)
October 1, 2005... Gucci's understated Niagra Briefcase quietly and sleekly shows off your sense of style. Constructed of black leather with silver hardware, it features three interior compartments. 42 x 37 x 16 cm, $1420, www.spireusa.com [ILLUSTRATION...

Fast lane.(Gear: Pump up your power profile with these ultra high-end briefcases.)
October 1, 2005... Want high-profile design with a whiff of testosterone, but without the sticker shock? Then check out this black nylon and leather briefcase, designed by Italian firm Pininfarina (known for designing cars for Alfa Romeo Spider and Ferrari)...

Top secret.(Gear: Pump up your power profile with these ultra high-end briefcases.)
October 1, 2005... This Cole Haan attache suggests secret agent intrigue with its exotic appeal. The hard-sided case is handcrafted in Italy from luxury leathers, such as ostrich, with solid brass hardware and polished nickel finish. Combination locks are...

A-plus.(Gear: Pump up your power profile with these ultra high-end briefcases.)
October 1, 2005... Handcrafted in Italy with soft leather and polished nickel hardware, Cole Haan's A-Line brief has a roomy multifunction interior that's fully lined in leather. 16.5 x 13 x 4 inches, $1,200 www.colehaan.corn [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Getting down to business: which airlines offer the best business-class experiences? Business Traveler's 2005 survey weighs the options.(Business-Class Survey)
October 1, 2005... For many travelers, commercial flying lately has been an ordeal. The security lines are long, premium lounges are crowded and airport delays are again on the rise. However, for those passengers willing to pay, business travel is becoming a more...

JAL executive class.(FLIGHT CHECK: TOKYO NARITA TO SAN FRANCISCO)(Japan Air Lines Company Ltd.)
October 1, 2005... FIRST IMPRESSIONS Salty snacks and finger sandwiches are the only food on offer at JAL's Sakura Lounge in Tokyo's Narita Airport, so if you're hungry, grab a bite to eat before you enter. Although the food offerings are sparse, the lounge does...

SAS business class.(FLIGHT CHECK: NEWARK TO STOCKHOLM ARLANDA)
October 1, 2005... FIRST IMPRESSIONS Newark wasn't crowded, and there was no line at the Business Class check-in desk. I checked in and zipped through security in five minutes. The SAS business lounge is near Gates 66-68, though the directions, courtesy of the...

Singapore Airlines raffles class.(LONDON HEATHROW TO SINGAPORE CHANGI)
October 1, 2005... CHECK-IN: I was welcomed to the Singapore Airlines desk by a smiling and cheerful employee. There was no line at the desk, and I was quickly checked in and given directions to the lounge. The fast track area was quiet, but the new passport...

The bayou breaks: New Orleans struggles to rebuild its tourism-based economy after one of the worst natural disasters in American history.(New Orleans)
October 1, 2005... The patients kept coming, hot, tired, and some clad in the same stinky clothes they had worn through waist-high flood water. Some people had cuts on their hands and feet from debris or flying glass. Others had run out of medication to treat...

Scandinavian by design: Sweden's capital marries old world charm to 21st-century hip.(Stockholm)
October 1, 2005... What city encourages visitors to fish outside their hotel room? Or delights when residents swim in front of City Hall? Sweden have dubbed this watery oasis "The Queen of Lake Malar" and "The Nobel City," but most of us know it as Stockholm....

Dragon flair: fast-growing Shanghai is China's focal point for foreign investment and trade.
October 1, 2005... No one in business these days can ignore the economic powerhouse that is China. With a GDP growth rate expected to exceed eight percent in 2005 and a rapacious appetite for the world's natural resources, China is a world-class contender for...

4 hours in Bratislava: from Renaissance-style to Gothic, Kevin Raub takes in the detailed historical architecture of the capital of Slovakia's preserved Old Town.
October 1, 2005... The architecture is the first thing that strikes you, but it's the beggars that leave the most lasting impression. Don't get the wrong idea--there are remarkably few here compared to other international cities. But the one or two that are here...

Flatotel, modern in Midtown Manhattan.(SAVINGS FOR MEMBERS)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... New York's intimate and modern Flatotel, located in the heart of midtown, is minutes away from Rockefeller Center and the Museum of Modern Art. Flatotel features 288 rooms and suites and a range of corporate apartments. Redesigned quest rooms...

Silky smooth.(READER OFFER)
October 1, 2005... Remember the last time you took a last-minute trip, and you forgot your favorite tie, your toothpaste or shaving kit? We can't help you with your toothpaste, hut we may be able to help you with your favorite scent. A company called e Shave...

Blue Ocean strategy: how to create uncontested market space and make the competition irrelevant.(Best Read)(Cirque du Soleil)
October 1, 2005... A onetime accordion player, stilt walker, and fire-eater, Guy Laliberte is now CEO of Cirque du Soleil, one of Canada's largest cultural exports. Created in 1984 by a group of street performers, Cirque's productions have been seen by almost 40...

How to become CEO: the rules for rising to the top of any organization.(Best Read)(chief executive officers)
October 1, 2005... DON'T EXPECT THE PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT TO PLAN YOUR CAREER. Amazingly, many managers think the personnel department (a.k.a. human resources) is supposed to construct a career path for them. They think companies actually have a grand plan for...

Point swank: Eva Leonard enjoys the great outdoors in comfort at a storied lakeside Adirondack resort.(Great Escape: The Point, Upper Saranac Lake, New York)(Hotel Review)
October 1, 2005... Just how secluded is The Point? So much so, that you won't be given directions to this luxury resort, tucked away in upstate New York six hours from Manhattan, until you've booked your reservation. Originally built in 1933 as Camp Wonundra, the...